Devarim - Rabbi Mark Diamond

The Qualities of Leadership
August 9, 2008 / 8 Av 5768

Rabbi Mark S. Diamond
Executive Vice President
The Board of Rabbis of Southern California

Torah Portion: Devarim ("These are the words"), Deut. 1:1-3:22

Haftarah Portion (Shabbat Hazon): Isaiah 1:1-27

The fast of Tisha B'Av begins Saturday evening, August 9, and continues all day Sunday, August 10. Tisha B'Av commemorates many tragic events in Jewish history, chief among them the destruction of both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem. Traditional Jews observe Tisha B'Av by abstaining from food and drink and attending synagogue services at which the Book of Lamentations and special kinot ("elegies") are chanted. It is a somber day of prayer, mourning and reflection on the themes of Jewish suffering and persecution throughout the centuries.

In the run-up to the November elections, candidates for elected office are spending and expending enormous time, effort and money speaking about leadership. Campaign brochures and media ads tell us that Candidate A is a true leader who deserves our vote, while Candidate B (his/her opponent) lacks what it takes to be an effective leader.

To my mind, leadership demands special qualities of character and judgment. Leaders possess the courage of their convictions. They lead their followers, even as they listen to the cares and concerns of their community. Leaders know when to delegate duties to others, but recognize that the buck stops with them. In this week's Torah portion, Moses recounts a crisis of leadership in his own career. Soon after the Israelites' departure from Egypt, Moses complains to his followers:

"I cannot bear the burden of you by myself…How can I bear unaided the trouble of you, and the burden, and the bickering! Pick from each of your tribes men who are wise, discerning, and experienced, and I will appoint them as your heads" (Deut. 1:9, 12-13).

This passage parallels an earlier account in the Book of Exodus in which Jethro offers sage advice to his overworked son-in-law Moses:

"You shall seek out from among all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and let them judge the people at all times." (Exodus 18:21-22)

Rambam (Maimonides) draws insights from both of these texts in his discussion of judges:

Judges must exhibit seven qualities. They must be wise, discerning, and experienced; they must be capable, fear God, be trustworthy, and spurn ill-gotten gain." (Mishneh Torah, Laws of the Sanhedrin, Ch. 2)

Rambam's commentary on the qualifications of judges applies equally well to leaders in our day and age. Hardly a week passes without a public scandal featuring a prominent local, national or international leader. We can and should expect more of our elected and appointed officials in government, business, education and religion. "I will restore your magistrates as of old, and your counselors as of yore," the prophet Isaiah proclaims in this week's Haftarah (Isaiah 1:26). May we drive strength and comfort from this ancient message.